Michigan | Mid-Michigan
Red Cedar River
McCormick Park Launch to Red Cedar Roadside Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Red Cedar River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A documented Williamston water-trail reach from McCormick Park to Red Cedar Roadside Park using direct USGS 04111379 telemetry near the put-in. The 18 cfs screen is a planning aid, not a safety guarantee.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
McCormick Park public canoe/kayak launch, WilliamstonMcCormick Park is a public carry-in launch with parking and restrooms; verify current hours and carry conditions.
Take-out
Red Cedar Roadside Park river accessThe water-trail source warns that rapids below McCormick are not suitable for beginning paddlers; scout, portage, or use the below-rapids Williamston landing instead.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- McCormick Park is a public carry-in launch with parking and restrooms; verify current hours and carry conditions.
- The water-trail source warns that rapids below McCormick are not suitable for beginning paddlers; scout, portage, or use the below-rapids Williamston landing instead.
- Red Cedar Roadside Park has direct riverbank access with a carry across the lawn; verify seasonal restroom, parking, and bank conditions.
- Do not assume intermediate private-bank exits or informal camping; use only named public endpoints.
Watch for
- Williamston rapids, low water, shallow sections, fallen trees, and changing current.
- Rapid rises after storms and cold water.
- Carry distance at Roadside Park and shuttle timing.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Red Cedar River near Williamston, MI |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 18 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | USGS 04111379 long-term daily discharge statistics |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route definitionMcCormick Park Launch to Red Cedar Roadside Park
The Red Cedar River Water Trail documents the Williamston launch, the six-mile downstream connection to the MDOT/Red Cedar Roadside Park, and the rapids warning for novice paddlers.
- Public endpoints and coordinatesMcCormick Park public launch to Red Cedar Roadside Park public river access
Outdoor Michigan publishes the McCormick Park launch coordinate; the water-trail page publishes the Roadside Park coordinate and describes both public accesses.
- Live gauge and thresholdUSGS 04111379; 18 cfs conservative minimum-only screen
USGS provides direct discharge telemetry and 39 water years of daily statistics near Williamston. The 18 cfs floor is a planning screen from the station's 25th percentile, not a paddling or safety guarantee.
- Safety and river characterShort water-trail reach with upstream Williamston rapids and changing wood/current
The water-trail source explicitly warns that the rapids below McCormick are not suitable for beginning paddlers; scout, portage, or use the below-rapids landing instead.
- Camping and logisticsDay route with shuttle; no on-route camping assumed
Stage the Roadside Park take-out before launching and use designated nearby lodging or campgrounds; do not camp on park or private river frontage.
- Image decisionNo external image copied
Use the product's rights-clean map/route presentation until a permissioned image is separately cleared.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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Quick answers
Red Cedar River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Red Cedar River?
Paddle Today watches Red Cedar River near Williamston, MI and uses 18 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Red Cedar River route start and end?
This route starts at McCormick Park public canoe/kayak launch, Williamston and ends at Red Cedar Roadside Park river access, about Approximately 6 river miles planning reach on the water.
Is this Red Cedar River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.